READING will face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final after they beat Bradford City 3-0 at the Madejski Stadium on Monday night in their quarter-final replay.
It will be the Royals first appearance in the final four of FA Cup for 88 years after Hal Robson-Kanu, Garath McCleary and Jamie Mackie all scored.
The first game between these sides ended 0-0, but Reading took control of the replay from the start of the game and opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Hal Robson-Kanu headed in McCleary’s corner.
The Royals then made it 2-0 after nine minutes, as Garath McCleary was able to cut into the box and his shot deflected off Adam Halliday going over a helpless Ben Williams.
The Bradford goalkeeper then did well to keep out a long range strike from Dan Williams.
The Yorkshire who had knocked out both Chelsea and Sunderland in earlier rounds, found it hard to carve out any real chances and Reading still led 2-0 at half-time.
Any hopes the visitors had of victory were ended just after the hour mark, after Filipe Morais received a straight red card, after a reckless high challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah as he caught the midfielder in the ribs.
The impressive Mackie then made sure Reading would be going to Wembley as he latched onto a ball from Chalobah and fired past Williams at the near post.
A delighted Reading manager Steve Clarke said: “Tonight was a big occasion and this is the first time this club has made the semi-final since 1927. Now we have switch back to the league where we have some important games coming up.”
When Reading were last in the semi-final they lost to eventual winners Cardiff City who beat Arsenal in the final, after they beat Southampton in the final four.
The Royals will receive around 31,500 tickets for the semi-final against holders Arsenal at Wembley Stadium which will be played on either Saturday April 18 or Sunday April 19.
The Reading fans will be in the east of Wembley Stadium, which is the opposite end when they played Swansea in the play-off final against Swansea in 2011.
Tickets will be priced from £33 to £63 with concessions reduced by £10. The club will publish full ticket details in the coming days.
Reading return to Championship action on Saturday, with a trip to mid-table Charlton Athletic (kick-off 3pm).
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